The New Orleans Jazz Orchestra Announces Kick-Off Events for Upcoming Fall Season

Season Begins with NPR's "Jazz Night in America" October 24th and The Orchestra's Showcase Concert October 26th at the New Orleans Jazz Market

The Grammy-Award Winning New Orleans Jazz Orchestra announces two events that will kick-off its official Fall Season starting with NPR's "Jazz Night in America" featuring Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah on October 24th and the Jazz Orchestra's Showcase Concert on October 26th.  Both performances are to be presented at the New Orleans Jazz Market (1436 Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard, New Orleans, LA 70113) with doors opening at 6pm and performances at 7:30pm.  More events to be announced soon and tickets are available at www.TheNOJO.com. 

The New Orleans Jazz Orchestra's showcase on October 26th represents the first performance since the organization filled its new leadership roles in 2017. Key leadership roles, as selected by the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra's Board of Directors, now consist of Artistic Director and Bandleader, Adonis Rose, and New Orleans Jazz Orchestra's President and CEO, Sarah Bell.

Additionally, famed Jazz pianist Ellis Marsalis and Arts Educator and Theater Executive Cassie Worley join longtime supporters Dee Dee Bridgewater and Mikki Shepard as the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra's Artistic Development Committee continues to take shape.

Rose, a New Orleans native, is a globally acclaimed, Grammy-Award Winning drummer who has performed with some of the world's most esteemed Jazz artists, from nine-time Grammy winning trumpeter Wynton Marsalis to three-time Grammy Winning vocalist Dianne Reeves to Jazz/Pop entertainer Harry Connick Jr. He is a graduate from the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts and the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston. "We are excited to have the orchestra performing again at the Jazz Market and moving in a positive direction," says Artistic Director Adonis Rose. "Good things are to come!"

Sarah Bell, a 10-year Central City resident, has been a long-time champion of New Orleans culture through her work with local and national non-profits. Bell joined the organization in 2014 and was appointed by the Board as President and CEO in February 2017 to maintain and solidify community programming and shift the organization's focus to the future. "Our devoted Board of Directors, generous individual supporters, and dedicated corporate sponsors have given us the margin to continue focusing on what we do best, which is providing authentic and meaningful experiences through the lens of Jazz. Our community programming has continued to thrive and with the return of extraordinary music to the Market, we are eager to reveal the future of our organization," states Bell.

Daryl Byrd, President and CEO of Iberiabank and member of the NOJO Board's Executive Committee notes, "The Jazz Market has been a staple on Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard since it opened in 2015 by consistently offering resources for children, musicians, and nonprofits. We're proud of Sarah's commitment to the community by already providing over 400 hours of community-based programming and support in 2017 and we are thrilled to have Adonis bring back the music."

The New Orleans Jazz Orchestra (NOJO) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to continue and strengthen the legacy of Jazz throughout local and global communities by providing access to unparalleled performances, creative gathering places, and authentic community engagement. We move forward in our mission with the Grammy Award-winning New Orleans Jazz Orchestra and the New Orleans Jazz Market; the only stand-alone facility built specifically for Jazz in New Orleans.  The NOJO prides itself in working with the community to offer services to local non-profits and musicians as well as educational opportunities for area youth.